spice

1 of 2

noun

plural spices
Synonyms of spicenext
1
: a plant product (such as pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, or ginger) that is used to season or flavor foods and is usually comprised of seeds, fruits, bark, or rhizomes that have been dried and typically ground
2
a
archaic : a small portion, quantity, or admixture : dash
b
: something that gives zest or relish
Variety's the very spice of life …William Cowper
3
: a pungent or fragrant odor : perfume
spiceless adjective
spiceless food

spice

2 of 2

verb

spiced; spicing

transitive verb

1
: to season with spices
2
: to add zest or relish to
… cynicism spiced with humor.J. W. Dawson
often used with up

Examples of spice in a Sentence

Noun The soup needs a little more spice. a cologne for men that captures all of the spice of the sea Verb I spiced the chicken with ginger. spice the stew with more pepper
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
With a warm spice flavor and a tangy cream cheese frosting, no one will ever believe that this cake starts with a can of condensed tomato soup. Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025 Traditional Tunisian Harissa Often considered the national condiment of Tunisia, harissa is a spicy chili paste made from roasted red peppers, garlic, olive oil, and warm spices. Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Dec. 2025
Verb
Some nibbles to graze on Lightly sweet, warmly spiced mulled wine is best paired with a selection of salty snacks. Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Dec. 2025 In an effort to spice up my cold-weather uniform and not look like the biggest outfit repeater known to man, a stylish purse is becoming more and more essential. Jamie Fischer, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spice

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French espece, espis, from Late Latin species product, wares, drugs, spices, from Latin, appearance, species — more at species

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spice was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spice. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

spice

1 of 2 noun
1
: a plant product (as pepper or nutmeg) that has a strong pleasant smell and is used to season or flavor food
2
: something that adds interest
variety is the spice of life
3
: a fragrant odor : perfume

spice

2 of 2 verb
spiced; spicing
: to season with or as if with spices

More from Merriam-Webster on spice

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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